Vertically adjustable windshield weather protector



J. P. FRANCIS Oct. 30, 1962 VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE WINDSHIELD WEATHER PROTECTOR Filed Aug. 18, 1960 FIG 4 F/G. 5

INV EN TOR WARE United States Patent Q 3,060,519 VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE WINDSHIELD WEATHER PROTECTOR John P. Francis, 20 Boston St., Haverhill, Mass. Filed Aug. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 50,550 2 Claims. (01. 20-1.12)

This invention relates generally to automobile windshield weather protectors adapted for erection and use in a drive-in parking area such as a drive-in theatre, and relates more specifically to a controlling means adapted to regulate the adjustable vertical alignment of each awning or canopy of each of said weather protector, an object thereof being to provide an extremely simple, sturdy and reliable controlling means for the adjustable weather protection of the general windshield area of an automobile in maintaining clear vision at all times during inclement weather conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a controlling means whereby the vertically adjustable awning or canopy is freely held in the desired vertical height adjustment, and adapted to be forceably extended to its topmost horizontal position upon the forward or rearward movement of said awning from the normal lateral in use position.

A further object of this invention is to provide means to urge the awning to its topmost horizontal position when in the out of use position, with the controlling means adapted to freely hold the said awning at any desired level below the said urged topmost position when in the in use lateral position.

With these objects and still further objects in view, as will hereinafter more fully appear, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the device showing the awning supported in an adjusted position relative to the parked automobile. The opposing structure shows the awning thereof at the topmost and also out of use position.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation sectional view of the outer post showing the spring means for urging the inner post upwardly.

FIGURE 3 is also a front elevation sectional view of the outer post showing another embodiment of the means for urging the inner post upwardly.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged front elevation view of the controlling means; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view of FIGURE 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the vertical inner supporting post is shown supported by the vertical outer supporting post 11, FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. The outer post 11 is supported in the concrete anchoring means 12 shown in the ground 13, FIGURE 1. The in ner post 10 has a horizontal supporting arm 15 extending from a cross bore 17 on said post, with a thumb screw 18 to adjustably secure the supporting arm 15.

Supported from the horizontal supporting arm 15 is an awning or canopy 16, in which the structure thereof may be rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible and with or without a supporting frame therefor. In FIGURE 1, there is also shown an opposing awning structure, with the awning 16 at the topmost vertical position of horizontal alignment and shown moved to the out of use position, the awning 16 extending parallel with the opposite parked automobile 14. The horizontal guide pin 26, attached to inner post 10, is thus shown disengaged from the vertical guide control member 19 due to the axial movement of said post 10.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the awning 16 is shown in pre-selected vertical position of horizontal alignment of the said awning relative to the lateral portion of the roof 3,050,519 i Patented Oct. 30, 1962 top of an automobile 14. The awning 16 is therefore adapted to be vertically positioned in adjustable spaced apart or in frictional rain sealing engagement with the said lateral portion of the roof top of the automobile regardless of the height of said vehicle. The maximum topmost or out of use" position is based upon the viewing clearance for the occupants in automobiles parked in the rear of, and at rear angles from each of the forwardly located awning structures erected in the drive-in theatre parking area.

A vertical inner and outer supporting post with a horizontal supporting arm and an awning supported by said supporting arm is shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 777,512, filed December 1, 1958, now US. Patent No. 3,004,301, dated Oct. 17, 1961. My invention therefore is primarily concerned with the controlling means for the vertical adjustment of the vertically adjustable supporting post and attached horizontal supporting arm, and awning supported therefrom.

.In FIGURE 2, there is shown an embodiment of lifting means for forceably urging the inner post 10 upwardly. Mounted within the outer post 11 is a coiled spring 27 mounted on base plate 29 and compressed against the upper plate 28. The extent of the vertical movement of inner post 10 may be governed by the length and compression of said spring 27, or by a thicker or additional plates 28 as filler piece members.

In FIGURE 3, there is shown another embodiment of lifting means for forceably urging the said inner post 10 upwardly. Mounted within the outer post 11 is a vertically disposed bar or upright member 30 having a pulley 31 attached at the top thereof. A cable or rope 32, attached to a pin 33 at the base of inner post 10, and extending over the said pulley 31, engages a freely suspended weight 34 for urging the said inner post 10 upwardly.

The vertical guide control member generally designated by the numeral 19, is shown in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5. In FIGURE 4, the bar or flat plate 20 of said member 19, has a number of vertically spaced apart guide bars 211 of slightly arcuate contour and secured to said plate 20 by screws 22 or other suitable means. The lower portion of plate 20 is formed with elongated slots 23 to adjustably receive the threaded bolts 25, the bolts engaging the spaced blocks 24- for adjustable supporting engagement of plate 20 to the outer post 11, as shown in FIGURE 1.

In FIGURES 4 and 5, there is shown the end threaded pin or rod 26, without the inner post 10, in free frictional engagement with a selected guide bar 21 of plate 20. In FIGURES 2 and 3, the end threaded pin 26 is shown attached to the inner post 10 and extending horizontally therefrom. It is to be understood that the said pin 26 may be located in the hollow open end of the horizontal supporting arm 15, and extending outwardly thereof to engage the vertical guide control member 19.

The complete operation of the entire structure is as follows: The awning 16 is normally (out of use) at the topmost extended position, disposed either laterally or longitudinally relative to the parked automobile. When the device is to be used, due to inclement weather, the inner post 10 is forced downwardly until the awning 16 is in the desired alignment relative to the lateral portion of the roof top, and relative to the angle and the force of the falling precipitation. Upon selecting the desired alignment, the horizontal supporting arm 15 is movably adjusted forwardly or rearwardly to extend laterally across the parked automobile.

The lateral movement of the supporting arm 15 forces the pin 26 of inner post 10 to freely engage one of the selected vertically spaced guide bars 21, thus preventing the awning 16 from being forced upwardly. The slightly arcuate guide bars 21 prevents the horizontal guide pin 26 from being moved by any wind pressure exerted on the said awning 16, thus holding the awning in the lateral normal in use" position.

Upon sufficient forward or rearward pressure, by hand or movement of the automobile, exerted upon either the awning 16 or post 10, release of the awning 16 is attained, whereby the inner post and awning attached to the arm is immediately forced upwardly to permit full clearance for the automobile when leaving the parking area. This function also eliminates any unsafe conditions, when the awning 16 is at the topmost position when not in use, thus preventing the patrons from hurting themselves by walking into or against lowly aligned awnings, when walking from and back to the parked automobiles after obtaining refreshments or use of the restrooms.

The vertical guide control member 19, and the horizontal guide pin 26 extending from the vertically adjustable post 10, provides a device whereby vertical adjustment of the horizontal alignment of awning 16 is pre-selected, adjustably and freely maintained in said selected position, and easily and positively released from any selected level to the topmost out of the way position. This feature also provides safe entrance or exit of any automobile when entering or leaving the parking area, regardless of the height of the automobile roof top above the ground level.

While certain embodiments of my invention have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various and other modifications may occur to those skilled in the art. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. Controlling means for controlling the movements of an adjustable windshield weather protector adapted for erection and use in a drive-in parking area such as a drive-in theatre comprising, a stationary vertical supporting post, a vertically and axially adjustable supporting post mounted on said stationary post, a horizontally mounted supporting arm extending from the said adjustable post and having an awning supported to said supporting arm, elevating means mounted on said stationary post to urge the said adjustable post upwardly, a horizontally disposed guide member extending outwardly from the said upper adjustable post and in vertical spaced apart relationship relative to the said stationary post, a separable spaced apart vertically disposed elongated guide control plate member adjustably attached to the upper side of one side of the outer periphery of the said stationary post and extending upwardly therefrom, and vertically spaced apart projections extending inwardly towards the supporting post from the said vertically disposed guide control plate member, said horizontal guide member adapted to freely and frictionally engage the underside of one of the selected vertically spaced apart inward projections upon a vertical and then an axial rotational movement of said adjustable post into a mating engagement urged by said elevating means, said engaged horizontal guide member adapted to be freely and fully disengaged from the said vertically disposed guide control plate member upon sufficient clockwise or counterclockwise axial movement of the said adjustable post in releasing the said horizontal guide member forwardly or rearwardly of said vertical guide plate member,

whereby the said awning is elevated by said elevating means and moved to an out of use position about forwardly or rearwardly of the lateral in use position, the said mentioned mating engagement of said guide members restraining any upward or the axial rotational movement of the said adjustable post in maintaining the said awning in a selected vertical position in either spaced apart relationship or in frictional rain sealing engagement relative to the lateral portion of the roof top of an automobile of a dissimilar height in providing complete weather protection to the windshield area of said automobile.

2. Controlling means for controlling the movements of an adjustable windshield weather protector adapted for erection and use in a drive-in parking area such as a drivein theatre comprising, a stationary vertical supporting post, a vertically and axially adjustable supporting post mounted on said stationary post, a horizontally mounted supporting arm extending from the said adjustable post and having an awning supported to said supporting arm, elevating means mounted on said stationary post to urge the said adjustable post upwardly, a horizontally disposed guide member extending outwardly from the said upper adjustable post and in vertical spaced apart relationship relative to the said stationary post, a separable spaced apart vertically disposed elongated guide control plate member adjustably attached to the upper side of one side of the outer periphery of the said stationary post and extending upwardly therefrom, and vertically spaced apart recesses formed on the said guide control plate member in the full width and partial depth thereof, said horizontal guide member adapted to freely and frictionally engage one of the selected said recesses upon a vertical and then an axial rotational movement of said adjustable post into a mating engagement urged by said elevating means, said engaged horizontal guide member adapted to be freely and fully disengaged from the said vertically disposed guide control plate member upon sufficient clockwise or counterclockwise axial movement of the said adjustable post in releasing the said horizontal guide member forwardly or rearwardly of said vertical guide plate member, whereby the said awning is elevated by said elevating means and moved to an out of use position about 90 forwardly or rearwardly of the lateral in use position, the said mentioned mating engagement of said guide members restraining any upward or the axial rotational movement of the said adjustable post in maintaining the said awning in a selected vertical position in either spaced apart relationship or in frictional train sealing engagement relative to the lateral portion of the roof top of an automobile of a dissimilar height in providing complete weather protection to the windshield area of said automobile.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 522,120 McHarry June 26, 1894 1,707,960 Silkinson Apr. 2, 1929 1,781,063 lessen Nov. 11, 1930 2,321,477 France June 8, 1943 2,398,441 Moore Apr. 16, 1946 2,859,840 Fantle Nov. 11, 1958 2,869,562 Francis Jan. 20, 1959 2,926,678 Francis Mar. 1, 1960 2,967.592 Stein Jan. 10, 1961 

